Gerber's 2019 spokesbaby is a Hmong girl in North Carolina

By Associated Press
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This undated photo provided by Gerber shows Kairi Yang from Hickory, N.C. Kairi was chosen by Gerber as the winner of its ninth annual photo search. In an interview on NBC’s “Today Show,” Kairi’s parents said they are Hmong, and their family had immigrated to North Carolina from southeast Asia. (Courtesy of the Yang Family/Gerber via AP)

HICKORY, N.C. (AP) — Gerber says its newest spokesbaby is a spunky 1-year-old with "the look of wonder in her eyes," born to a Hmong immigrant family in North Carolina.

The company announced Tuesday that the winner of its ninth annual photo search is 1-year-old Kairi Yang, a little girl from Hickory who sometimes makes a cute "growling" sound when she gets excited.

Her parents explained on NBC's "Today Show" that she's part of an extended family that emigrated from southeast Asia. Kairi will play a key role in Gerber's social media campaign as the face of the year. Her family will also receive $50,000.

Gerber's contest made headlines last year when 2-year-old Lucas Warren became the first spokesbaby with Down syndrome. This year's contest attracted a record 544,000 entries.